Healthy lifestyle

Healthy lifestyle
Starting a healthy lifestyle can involve eating nutritious foods, engaging in regular physical activity, and prioritizing your mental health.
Good health is not just the absence of disease or illness, it is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being.
This means eating a balanced diet, getting regular exercise, avoiding tobacco and drugs and getting plenty of rest.
Our bodies are like machines that require a balance of protein, carbohydrates, fat, vitamins, minerals and water to stay in good working order.
Choose a diet that's low in saturated fat and cholesterol, and moderate in sugar, salt and total fat.
Steps you can take for a healthy lifestyle:

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  Be physically active for 30 minutes most days of the week. Break this up into three 10-minute sessions when pressed for time. Healthy movement may include walking, sports, dancing, yoga or running.
  
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  Eat a well-balanced, low-fat diet with lots of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
  
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  Choose a diet that's low in saturated fat and cholesterol, and moderate in sugar, salt and total fat.
  
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  Don't smoke, and quit if you do. Ask your health care provider for help. UCSF offers a smoking cessation program.
  
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  Stay out of the sun, especially between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. when the sun's harmful rays are strongest. Don't think you are safe if it is cloudy or if you are in the water, as harmful rays pass through both. Use a broad spectrum sunscreen that guards against both UVA and UVB rays, with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher. Select sunglasses that block 99 to 100 percent of the sun's rays.
  

You may feel pulled in different directions and experience stress from dealing with work, family and other matters, leaving little time for yourself. Learning to balance your life with some time for yourself will pay off with big benefits – a healthy outlook and better health.
Steps you can take for a healthy outlook :

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  Stay in touch with family and friends.
  
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  Be involved in your community.
  
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  Maintain a positive attitude and do things that make you happy.
  

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  Keep your curiosity alive. Lifelong learning is beneficial to your health.
  

Your list of healthy lifestyle behaviors may be different from mine. The most important thing to remember is that you can make a difference in your health and well-being. Take charge of your life, and be mindful of small behavior changes that can make your lifestyle a healthier one.